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Background and Aims: Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is common after ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), leading to adverse clinical outcomes. However, its diagnosis remains difficult, and mechanisms elusive. This study explores the role of Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a gut microbiota metabolite, as a potential biomarker for diagnosing CMD in STEMI patients., Methods: This prospective, observational study enrolled 210 STEMI patients with multivessel coronary artery disease who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). TMAO levels were measured at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months post-PCI, whilst coronary physiology was assessed at 3 months. The primary endpoint was the incidence of CMD at 3 months, with the secondary endpoint being major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) at 12 months. An additional 59 consecutive patients were enrolled for validation., Results: TMAO levels varied from baseline to 3 months, then stabilised. The areas under the ROC curve for baseline TMAO and TMAO at 3-month were 0.55 (95 % CI 0.46-0.64; p = 0.426), and 0.80 (95 % CI 0.73-0.87; p < 0.001), respectively. The optimal cut-off for TMAO at 3-month to diagnose CMD was 3.91, with similar sensitivity and specificity in the derivation and validation cohort. The incidence of MACCE was higher in patients with TMAO≥3.91 (41.4 % vs 10.7 %; p < 0.001). The addition of 3-month TMAO improved the diagnostic performance of traditional risk factors., Conclusion: TMAO is a robust biomarker for CMD and is significantly associated with the incidence of MACCE. TMAO has the potential in guiding clinical decision-making and suggests an interplay between gut microbiota and CMD., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A 57-year-old woman with good past health was admitted to the accident and emergency department at an outside hospital for sudden onset chest pain. Electrocardiogram revealed ST-segment elevation at inferior leads.

Study Objective: Although the importance of primary percutaneous coronary intervention has been emphasized for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the appropriateness of the cardiac catheterization laboratory activation remains suboptimal. This study aimed to develop a precise artificial intelligence (AI) model for the diagnosis of STEMI and accurate cardiac catheterization laboratory activation., Methods: We used electrocardiography (ECG) waveform data from a prospective percutaneous coronary intervention registry in Korea in this study. Two independent board-certified cardiologists established a criterion standard (STEMI or Not STEMI) for each ECG based on corresponding coronary angiography data. We developed a deep ensemble model by combining 5 convolutional neural networks. In addition, we performed clinical validation based on a symptom-based ECG data set, comparisons with clinical physicians, and external validation., Results: We used 18,697 ECGs for the model development data set, and 1,745 (9.3%) were STEMI. The AI model achieved an accuracy of 92.1%, sensitivity of 95.4%, and specificity of 91.8 %. The performances of the AI model were well balanced and outstanding in the clinical validation, comparison with clinical physicians, and the external validation., Conclusion: The deep ensemble AI model showed a well-balanced and outstanding performance. As visualized with gradient-weighted class activation mapping, the AI model has a reasonable explainability. Further studies with prospective validation regarding clinical benefit in a real-world setting should be warranted., (Copyright © 2024 American College of Emergency Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A 63-year-old man presented with delayed inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction complicated with ventricular septal rupture (VSR). He developed cardiogenic shock and respiratory failure requiring intubation and Impella (Abiomed) support.

Objectives: Patients presenting with suspected ST segment elevation myocardial infarction frequently have symptoms in addition to chest pain, including dyspnea, nausea or vomiting, diaphoresis, and lightheadedness or syncope. These symptoms are often regarded as supporting the diagnosis of infarction. We sought to determine the prevalence of the non-chest pain symptoms among patients who were confirmed as having a critically diseased coronary vessel as opposed to those with no angiographic culprit lesion., Methods: Data from 1393 consecutive patients with ST segment elevation who underwent emergent coronary angiography were analyzed. Records were reviewed in detail for symptoms, ECG findings, prior history, angiographic findings, and in-hospital outcomes., Results: Dyspnea was present in 50.8% of patients, nausea or vomiting in 36.5%, diaphoresis in 51.2%, and lightheadedness/syncope in 16.8%. On angiography, 1239 (88.9%) patients had a culprit lesion and 154 (11.1%) were found not to have a culprit. Only diaphoresis had a higher prevalence among the patients with, as compared with those without a culprit, with an odds ratio of 2.64 ( P  < 0.001). The highest occurrence of diaphoresis was among patients with a totally occluded artery, with an intermediate frequency among patients with a subtotal stenosis, and the lowest prevalence among those with no culprit. These findings were consistent regardless of ECG infarct location, affected vessel, patient age, or sex. Among the subset of patients who presented without chest discomfort, none of the symptoms were associated with the presence of a culprit., Conclusion: The presence of diaphoresis, but not dyspnea, nausea, or lightheadedness is associated with an increased likelihood that patients presenting with ST elevation will prove to have a culprit lesion. In patients who present with ST elevation but without chest discomfort, these symptoms should not be regarded as 'chest pain equivalents'. Further objective data among patients with angiographic confirmation of culprit lesion status is warranted., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Although serum troponin level is the gold standard under the universal definition of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), serum creatinine kinase (CK) and creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB) is still measured in clinical practice as the compliment of troponin level. The purpose of this retrospective study is to illustrate the dramatic change of CK-MB/CK ratio by comparing CK-MB/CK ratio in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) among ≤ 24 h before reaching peak CK, peak CK, ≤ 24 h after reaching peak CK, and 24-48 h after reaching peak CK. We included 502 patients with STEMI. We calculated each average CK-MB/CK ratio at ≤ 24 h before reaching peak CK, peak CK, ≤ 24 h after reaching peak CK, and 24-48 h after reaching peak CK. The average values were compared using Friedman test. The average CK-MB/CK ratio at ≤ 24 h before reaching peak CK, peak CK, ≤ 24 h after reaching peak CK, and 24-48 h after reaching peak CK was 0.096 (9.6% of CK), 0.098 (9.8% of peak CK), 0.076 (7.6% of CK), and 0.028 (2.8% of CK), respectively. The Friedman test suggested that the CK-MB/CK ratio significantly declined after reaching peak CK (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the CK-MB/CK ratio was around 0.1 (10% of CK) until CK-MB and CK reached the peak, but dropped sharply after reaching peak CK. The CK-MB/CK ratio less than 0.1 (10% of CK) cannot be used to rule out the possibility of AMI, when the onset of symptom is unclear or late presentation., (© 2024. Springer Nature Japan KK, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Type-D personality is an established predisposing factor for various diseases. Type-D traits have been shown to pose a 26% increased risk of coronary artery disease after controlling for other confounding factors. Significant associations have been reported between type-D personality traits and dyslipidaemia, impaired endothelial function, coronary heart disease (CAD), acute myocardial infarction, and other adverse cardiovascular events., Objective: To assess the association between type-D personality and left-ventricular adverse remodelling in patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention following index ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction., Methods: All patients hospitalized and treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) after their index ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) between 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2023 were prospectively enrolled. Type-D personality traits in the study population were determined at baseline using type-D Scale-14 (DS14) instrument, whereas any positive change in left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV) ≥ 20% at follow up period of 12-months from baseline was defined as left-ventricular adverse remodelling (LVAR). Univariate and multivariate analysis was done to establish the independent predictors of LVAR. The area under receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was employed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of the identified independent predictors., Results: A total of 124 patients were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the study population was 67 ± 10 years and the overall incidence of LVAR was found to be 25%. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that type-D personality is a significant independent predictor of LVAR [Formula: see text] apart from the already established independent predictors Killip Class[Formula: see text], baseline Global Longitudinal strain (GLS)[Formula: see text], and 3-vessel CAD[Formula: see text]. In ROC curve analysis type-D personality as an independent predictor of LVAR achieved a sensitivity of 41.4% and a specificity of 87.1%, p < 0.02., Conclusion: Type-D personality trait is a significant independent predictor of LVAR in patients treated with PCI after their index-STEMI., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Since 2000, the definition of myocardial infarction (MI) has evolved with reliance on cardiac troponin (cTn) tests. The implications of this change on trends of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) subtypes obtained from routinely collected hospital morbidity data are unclear. Using person-linked hospitalisation data, we compared International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-coded data with biomarker-classified admission rates for ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI), non-STEMI (NSTEMI) and unstable angina (UA) in Western Australia (WA)., Methods: We used linked hospitalisation data from all WA tertiary hospitals to identify patients with a principal diagnosis of STEMI, NSTEMI or UA between 2002 and 2016. Linked biomarker results were classified as 'diagnostic' for MI according to established criteria. We calculated age-standardised and sex-standardised rates (ASSRs) for ICD-coded versus biomarker-classified admissions by ACS subtypes and estimated annual change in admissions using Poisson regression adjusting for age and sex., Results: There were 37 272 ACS admissions in 30 683 patients (64.2% male), and 96% of cases had linked biomarker data, predominantly conventional cTn at the start and high-sensitive cTn from late 2013. Despite lower ASSRs, trends in MI classified with a diagnostic biomarker were concordant with ICD-coded admissions rates for both STEMI and NSTEMI. Between 2002 and 2010, STEMI rates declined by 4.1% (95% CI 5.0%, 3.1%) and 3.4% (95% CI 4.6%, 2.3%) in ICD-coded and biomarker-classified admissions, respectively, and both plateaued thereafter. For NSTEMI between 2002 and 2010, the ICD-coded and biomarker-classified rates increased 8.0% per year (95% CI 7.2%, 8.9%) and 8.0% (95% CI 7.0%, 9.0%), respectively, and both subsequently declined. For UA, both ICD-coded and biomarker-classified UA admission rates declined in a steady and concordant manner between 2002 and 2016., Conclusions: The present study supports the validity of using administrative data to monitor population trends in ACS subtypes as they appear to generally reflect the redefinition of MI in the troponin era., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by uninhibited platelet production. It can present with vasomotor symptoms, and less commonly, severe thrombotic events such as myocardial infarction. ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) secondary to the hypercoagulable state in ET is a diagnostic challenge as the complication is rare, especially outside the typical demographics affected by ET such as the female and elderly populations., Case Presentation: Here we report a case of a 32-year-old male found to have STEMI and a markedly elevated platelet count. Angiography revealed occlusion of the left anterior descending and left circumflex arteries, requiring percutaneous intervention and Impella support. The patient was later diagnosed with essential thrombocythemia, treated with hydroxyurea and antiplatelet therapy, and discharged with a wearable cardioverter defibrillator., Conclusions: This case illustrates the potential for severe thrombotic complications such as STEMI due to ET. Severe thrombotic complications are less common manifestations of ET in general, particularly in young males. Recognition and diagnosis of ET are critical for the institution of appropriate therapy and prevention of STEMI and cardiogenic shock among other complications., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

To better align with the clinical setting, the European Society of Cardiology has published new guidelines covering the whole spectrum of the acute coronary syndrome, including ST-elevation myocardial infarction, non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction and unstable angina.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by epistaxis, gastrointestinal bleeding, iron deficiency anemia, and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) affecting the lungs, liver, and brain. Owing to its rarity and diagnostic challenges, early identification is often elusive. Underdiagnosis and prolonged diagnostic delays are prevalent. Here, we present the case of a 63-year-old male who presented with chest pain and was diagnosed with an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Subsequently, he underwent placement of a drug-eluting stent in the right coronary artery (RCA). However, recurrent postoperative epistaxis resulted in severe anemia, prompting further investigation leading to the diagnosis of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia through comprehensive medical history and genetic testing. Future studies are warranted to evaluate reperfusion strategies in HHT patients presenting with myocardial infarction., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains one of the major causes of death around the world in which ST elevation MI (STEMI) is in the lead. Although the mortality rate from STEMI seems to decline, this result might not be demonstrated in young adults who basically have different baseline characteristics and outcomes compared with older patients., Methods: Data of the STEMI patients aged 18 years or older who underwent PCI during May 2018 to August 2019 from Thai PCI Registry, a prospective, multi-center, nationwide study, was included and aimed to investigate the predisposing factors and short-term outcomes of patients aged < 40 years compared with age 41-60, and > 61 years., Results: Data of 5,479 STEMI patients were collected. The patients' mean age was 62.6 (SD = 12.6) years, and 73.6% were males. There were 204, 2,154, and 3,121 patients in the youngest, middle, and oldest groups. The young patients were mainly male gender (89.2% vs. 82.4% and 66.6%; p < 0.001), were current smokers (70.6%, 57.7%, 34.1%; p < 0.001), had BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 more frequently (60.8%, 44.1%, 26.1%; p < 0.001), and had greater family history of premature CAD (6.9%, 7.2%, 2.9%; p < 0.001). The diseased vessel in the young STEMI patients was more often single vessel disease with the highest percentage of proximal LAD stenosis involvement. Interestingly, there were trends of higher events of procedural failure (2.9%, 2.1%, 3.3%; p = 0.028) and procedural complications (8.8%, 5.8%, 9.4%; p < 0.001) in both youngest and oldest groups compared to the middle-aged group. In-hospital death was found in 3.4% in the youngest group compared to 3.3% in the middle-aged patients and 9.2% in the older patients (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Despite experiencing higher rates of procedural failure and complications during treatment compared to middle-aged and older patients, young STEMI individuals demonstrate a significantly lower risk of death during hospitalization and within one year of the event. Younger patients might have a more robust physiological reserve or benefit from more aggressive post-procedure management. However, the higher prevalence of modifiable risk factors like smoking and obesity in younger individuals underscores the need for preventative measures. Encouraging smoking cessation and weight control in this demographic is crucial not only to prevent STEMI but also to potentially improve their long-term survival prospects., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.

The relationship between weather and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) incidence has been the subject of considerable research, with varying conclusions. Harnessing machine learning techniques, our study explores the relationship between meteorological factors and ACS presentations in the emergency department (ED), offering insights into seasonal variations and inter-day fluctuations to optimize patient care and resource allocation. A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted, encompassing ACS presentations to Dutch EDs from 2010 to 2017. Temporal patterns were analyzed using heat-maps and time series plots. Multivariable linear regression (MLR) and Random Forest (RF) regression models were employed to forecast daily ACS presentations with prediction horizons of one, three, seven, and thirty days. Model performance was assessed using the coefficient of determination (R²), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). The study included 214,953 ACS presentations, predominantly unstable angina (UA) (94,272; 44%), non-ST-elevated myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) (78,963; 37%), and ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) (41,718; 19%). A decline in daily ACS admissions over time was observed, with notable inter-day (estimated median difference: 41 (95%CI = 37-43, p = < 0.001) and seasonal variations (estimated median difference: 9 (95%CI 6-12, p = < 0.001). Both MLR and RF models demonstrated similar predictive capabilities, with MLR slightly outperforming RF. The models showed moderate explanatory power for ACS incidence (adjusted R² = 0.66; MAE (MAPE): 7.8 (11%)), with varying performance across subdiagnoses. Prediction of UA incidence resulted in the best-explained variability (adjusted R² = 0.80; MAE (MAPE): 5.3 (19.1%)), followed by NSTEMI and STEMI diagnoses. All models maintained consistent performance over extended prediction horizons. Our findings indicate that ACS presentation exhibits distinctive seasonal changes and inter-day differences, with marked reductions in incidence during the summer months and a distinct peak prevalence on Mondays. The predictive performance of our model was moderate. Nonetheless, we obtained good explanatory power for UA presentations. Our model emerges as a potentially valuable supplementary tool to enhance ED resource allocation or future predictive models predicting ACS incidence in the ED., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: There is limited data on the association between inflammation and the formation of early left ventricular thrombus (LVT) following ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This study aimed to explore the predictive value of several inflammatory biomarkers for LVT formation following STEMI., Methods and Results: Our cohort included 2534 consecutive patients admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) with STEMI. The final analysis included 51 patients with LVT and 102 patients without LVT, matched for age, sex, anterior infarct and ejection fraction. Upon admission, patients with LVT had higher white blood cell counts (WBC) (12.8 ± 7 vs. 12.4 ± 4 ×10 3 /µL, p = 0.01), higher absolute neutrophil counts (10.5 ± 4 vs. 8.6 ± 4 ×10 3 /µL, p = 0.003), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (8.2 ± 6 vs. 4.8 ± 4, p = 0.04), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (35.9 ± 62 vs. 18.6 ± 40 mg/L, p = 0.04). Peak values for WBC and CRP were also higher in the LVT group (17.8 ± 8 vs. 14.6 ± 5 ×10 3 /µL, p = 0.003 and 95.8 ± 82 vs. 64.2 ± 76 mg/L, p = 0.02, respectively). In univariate regression analysis, WBC upon admission (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.02-1.21, p = 0.02), peak WBC (OR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.02-1.17, p = 0.009), neutrophil count upon admission (OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.04-1.26, p = 0.004), and peak CRP (OR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1-1.01, p = 0.03) predicted LVT formation, which was also evident in multivariate regression models., Conclusion: WBC and neutrophil counts upon admission, as well as peak WBC and CRP, have additional predictive value for LVT formation following STEMI, beyond classical risk factors., (© 2024 The Author(s). Clinical Cardiology published by Wiley Periodicals, LLC.)

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and serious complication of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). AKI and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are highly heterogeneous, leaving a wide gap between them. Therefore, the term acute kidney disease (AKD) was implemented, describing prolonged renal injury between 7 and 90 days. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and predictors of AKD among STEMI patients., Methods: This retrospective observational study included 2940 consecutive patients admitted with STEMI between 2008 and 2022. Renal function was assessed upon admission and routinely thereafter. Renal outcomes were evaluated according to KDIGO criteria, with AKD defined as persistent renal injury of between 7 and 90 days., Results: Two hundred and fifty-two subjects with STEMI and AKI were included; of them, 117 (46%) developed AKD. Among baseline CKD patients, higher rates of AKD were observed (60% vs. 46%). KDIGO index ≥ 2 was an independent predictor for AKD in in subjects without baseline CKD (AOR 2.63, 95% CI 1.07-6.53). In subjects with baseline CKD, older age and higher creatinine were independent predictors for AKD. Subjects with AKD had a higher 1-year mortality rate (HR 3.39, 95% CI 1.71-6.72, p < 0.01). This trend was mainly driven by the CKD subpopulation where higher mortality rates for AKD on CKD were observed (HR 5.26, 95% CI 1.83-15.1, p < 0.01)., Conclusion: AKD is common among STEMI patients with AKI. The presence of CKD and higher KDIGO stage should prompt strict monitoring for early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of renal function deterioration., (© 2024 The Author(s). Clinical Cardiology published by Wiley Periodicals, LLC.)

Background: The percentage of women <50 years of age hospitalized with myocardial infarction is increasing. We describe the clinical, morphological, and biological characteristics, as well as the clinical outcomes of this population., Methods and Results: This prospective, observational study included consecutive women <50 years of age admitted for myocardial infarction at 30 centers in France (May 2017-June 2019). The primary outcome was the composite of net adverse clinical events: all-cause death, cardiovascular death, recurrent myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, any stroke, or major bleeding occurring during hospitalization with a 12-month follow up. Three hundred fourteen women were included. The mean age was 43.0 (±5.7) years, 60.8% presented with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, 75.5% were current smokers, 31.2% had a history of complicated pregnancy, and 55.1% reported recent emotional stress. Most (91.6%) women presented with typical chest pain. Of patients on an estrogen-containing contraceptive, 86.0% had at least 1 contraindication. Of patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, 17.8% had myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries and 14.6% had spontaneous coronary artery dissection, whereas 29.3% presented with multivessel vessel disease. During hospitalization, 11 net adverse clinical events occurred in 9 (2.8%) women, but no deaths or stent thromboses occurred. By 12 months, 14 net adverse clinical events occurred in 10 (3.2%) women; 2 (0.6%) died (from progressive cancer) and 25 (7.9%) had an ischemia-driven repeat percutaneous coronary intervention., Conclusions: Most young women with myocardial infarction reported typical chest pain and had modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. History of adverse pregnancy outcomes and prescription of combined oral contraceptive despite a contraindication were prevalent, emphasizing the need for comprehensive cardiological and gynecological evaluation and follow-up., Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03073447.

Background: RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed, and secreted) or CCL5 (CC chemokine ligand 5) is a chemokine that mediates chemotaxis and activation of T cells, monocytes, mast cells, and dendritic cells. It is involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including atherosclerosis, but its role at the acute phase of myocardial infarction (MI) is unclear. Our objective is to determine whether the serum level of RANTES is a marker of the severity of acute MI., Methods and Results: The study included 250 consecutive patients with ST-segment-elevation MI who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention in a prospective cohort. Peripheral venous blood samples were taken at 5 time points and ELISA was performed. Major adverse cardiovascular events were prospectively recorded over the 12-month follow-up. Serum RANTES level raised from 12.9 (8.0-20.7) ng/mL at H0 to 13.9 (7.4-22.4) ng/mL at H4 and decreased gradually until 1 month at 9.7 (5.4-13.6) ng/mL ( P <0.0001). RANTES area under the curve (AUC) level was not correlated with infarct size ( r =-0.03, P =0.70) or left ventricular ejection fraction assessed by magnetic resonance imaging ( r =0.02, P =0.80). Patients with a RANTES AUC serum level below the first tertile value of the population (411.0 ng.h.mL -1 ) were more likely to have a major adverse cardiovascular event during the first 12 months after ST-segment-elevation MI (hazard ratio [HR], 2.9 [1.3-6.6], P =0.01). In a multivariable Cox regression analysis, serum level below the first tertile remained associated with an increased risk of experiencing major adverse cardiovascular event during the follow-up (adjusted HR, 2.6 [1.2-5.8], P =0.02)., Conclusions: A low level of circulating RANTES post ST-segment-elevation MI was associated with an increased risk of experiencing major adverse cardiovascular event and might be a valuable prognostic marker in patients with ST-segment-elevation MI.

Background: National-level differences in myocardial infarction (MI) quality of care among Asian patients in the United States are unclear. We assessed the quality of MI care in the 6 largest US Asian ethnic groups., Methods: Patients aged ≥18 years with ST-segment-elevation MI or non-ST-segment-elevation MI in the Get With The Guidelines-Coronary Artery Disease registry (711 US hospitals, 2015-2021) were assessed. The odds of MI-related quality of care and process outcomes were evaluated in Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and other Asian adults compared with non-Hispanic White adults. Sex-stratified logistic regression models were adjusted for age and clinical characteristics., Results: There were 5691 Asian patients (1520 Asian Indian, 422 Chinese, 430 Filipino, 114 Japanese, 283 Korean, 553 Vietnamese, and 2369 other Asian) and 141 271 non-Hispanic White patients, overall 30% female, and mean age of 66.5 years. Relative to non-Hispanic White adults, among patients with ST-segment-elevation MI, door-to-ECG time ≤10 minutes was less likely in Asian Indian (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.64 [95% CI, 0.50-0.82]), Chinese (aOR, 0.65 [95% CI, 0.46-0.93]), and Korean (aOR, 0.57 [95% CI, 0.33-0.97]) men and in other Asian women (aOR, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.41-0.90]). Door-to-balloon time ≤90 minutes was less likely in Asian Indian men (aOR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.56-0.90]) and Filipina women (aOR, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.24-0.98]). In patients with ST-segment-elevation MI or non-ST-segment-elevation MI, optimal medical therapy for MI was less likely in Korean men (aOR, 0.65 [95% CI, 0.47-0.90]) and more likely in Asian Indian men (aOR, 1.22 [95% CI, 1.06-1.40]) and women (aOR, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.04-1.67]) and Filipina women (aOR, 1.84 [95% CI, 1.27-2.67])., Conclusions: MI quality of care varies among US Asian patients with ST-segment-elevation MI and non-ST-segment-elevation MI. Quality improvement programs must identify and address the factors that result in suboptimal MI quality of care among US Asian patients., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest related to this work. Dr Huffman has pending patents for heart failure polypills. George Health Enterprises Pty Ltd (GH) and its subsidiary, George Medicines Pty Ltd, have received investment funds to develop fixed-dose combination products, including combinations of blood pressure–lowering drugs. GH is the social enterprise arm of The George Institute for Global Health. Dr Yang received research funding from Microsoft Research to study new blood pressure measuring technologies and Amgen (cholesterol drug trials). Dr Yang is a stockholder and an advisory board member of Measure Labs (new blood pressure measurement technologies) and Clocktree (a telemedicine company). Dr Yang is a consultant for Genentech (novel drug therapies for cardiovascular disease prevention).

Aims: We aim to integrate the parameters of two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography and identify the high-risk population for all-cause mortality in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)., Methods: The study involved a retrospective cohort population with STEMI who were admitted to Yongchuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between January 2016 and January 2019. Baseline data were collected, including 2D echocardiography parameters and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The parameters of 2D echocardiography were subjected to cluster analysis. Logistic regression models were employed to assess univariate and multivariate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of cluster information in relation to all-cause mortality. Four logistic regression models were generated, utilizing cluster information, clinical variables, clinical variables in conjunction with LVEF, and clinical variables in conjunction with LVEF and cluster information as predictive variables, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) were utilized to evaluate the incremental risk stratification value of cluster information., Results: The study included 633 participants with 28.8% female, a mean age of 65.68 ± 11.98 years. Over the course of a 3-year follow-up period, 108 (17.1%) patients experienced all-cause mortality. Utilizing cluster analysis of 2D echocardiography parameters, the patients were categorized into two distinct clusters, with statistically significant differences observed in most clinical variables, echocardiography, and survival outcomes between the clusters. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that cluster information was independently associated with the risk of all-cause mortality with adjusted OR 7.33 (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.99-14.06, P < 0.001). The inclusion of LVEF enhanced the predictive capacity of the model utilized with clinical variables with AUC 0.848 (95% CI 0.809-0.888) versus AUC 0.872 (95% CI 0.836-0.908) (P < 0.001), and the addition of cluster information further improved its predictive performance with AUC 0.906 (95% CI 0.878-0.934, P < 0.001). This cluster analysis was translated into a free available online calculator (https://app-for-mortality-prediction-cluster.streamlit.app/)., Conclusions: The 2D echocardiographic diagnostic information based on cluster analysis had good prognostic value for STEMI population, which was helpful for risk stratification and individualized intervention., (© 2024 The Author(s). ESC Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Society of Cardiology.)

Background: Guidelines on myocardial infarction (MI) recommend antithrombotic and anticoagulatory treatment at time of diagnosis. MI with ST segment elevation (STEMI) is mostly a certain diagnosis. Acute coronary syndrome without ST segment elevation (NSTE-ACS) has diagnostic uncertainty and remains a working diagnosis in the prehospital setting., Objective: Assessment of prehospital loading with aspirin and heparin depending on ACS subtype and pretreatment with oral anticoagulants., Methods: The PRELOAD survey was a nationwide German study. STEMI/NSTE-ACS scenarios were designed and varied in pretreatment: I) no pretreatment, II) new oral anticoagulants (NOAC), III) vitamin K antagonist (VKA). Loading strategy was assessed and included: a) aspirin (ASA), b) unfractionated heparin (UFH), c) ASA + UFH, d) no loading., Results: A total of 708 emergency physicians were included. In NSTE-ACS without pretreatment, 79% chose loading (p < 0.001). ASA + UFH (71.4%) was the preferred option. In corresponding STEMI scenario, 100% chose loading and 98.6% preferred ASA + UFH (p < 0.001). In NSTE-ACS with NOAC pretreatment, 69.8% favored loading (p < 0.001); in VKA pretreatment the corresponding rate was 72.3% (p < 0.001). In each scenario, ASA was the preferred option. In STEMI with NOAC pretreatment, 97.5% chose loading (p < 0.001); analogous rate was 96.8% in STEMI with VKA pretreatment (p < 0.001). ASA was the preferred option again., Conclusions: Prehospital loading was the preferred treatment strategy despite the diagnostic uncertainty in NSTE-ACS and guidelines recommending loading at time of diagnosis. Pretreatment with oral anticoagulants resulted in a strategy shift to loading with only aspirin. In STEMI patients, this indicates potential undertreatment., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Reducing the door-to-balloon time (D2BT) in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients maximizes myocardial salvage and mitigates morbidity/mortality., Aims: To assess the D2BT in STEMI patients requiring inter-hospital transfer for revascularization and identify any potential causes of delay., Methods: Consecutive patients presenting to the Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown (CHB) emergency department (ED) who were transferred to the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin for primary percutaneous coronary intervention from January 2018 to October 2022 were identified in a regional database and their D2BTs calculated. D2BTs were further sub-categorized into key intervals to identify any potential causes of delay., Results: A total of 90 patients were included for analysis, with a median D2BT of 117.5 min (interquartile range [IQR]: 99.3-170.8 min) and 52.5% of patients achieving the ≤ 120 min target. Despite being the shortest interval considered, the time from arrival at the CHB ED to diagnostic electrocardiogram (ECG) was a substantial contributor to the overall delay to revascularization given its wide variability (median: 18.0 min; IQR: 9.0-46.8 min), with only 28.8% of patients achieving the ≤ 10 min target., Conclusions: Nearly half of the patients studied failed to achieve the overall target D2BT for revascularization. The time from arrival at the CHB ED to diagnostic ECG was identified as a substantial contributor to this failure, with a median time almost twice that of the target and a quarter of all patients spending longer than 46.8 min. These findings highlight a need to improve the implementation of ECG triage and interpretation in the ED., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is a serious complication of heart attack and constitutes one of its main causes of death. To date, there is no data on its treatment and evolution in Latin America., Objectives: To know the clinical characteristics, treatment strategies, evolution and in-hospital mortality of CS in Latin America., Materials and Methods: This is a prospective, multicenter registry of patients hospitalized with CS in the context of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) with and without ST segment elevation for 24 months., Results: 41 Latin American centers participated incorporating patients during the period between October 2021 and September 2023. 278 patients were included. Age: 66 (59-75) years, 70.1 % men. 74.8 % of the cases correspond to ACS with ST elevation, 14.4 % to ACS without ST elevation, 5.7 % to right ventricular infarction and 5.1 % to mechanical complications. CS was present from admission in 60 % of cases. Revascularization: 81.3 %, inotropic use: 97.8 %, ARM: 52.5 %, Swan Ganz: 17 %, intra-aortic balloon pump: 22.2 %. Overall in-hospital mortality was 52.7 %, with no differences between ACS with or without ST., Conclusions: Morbidity and mortality is very high despite the high reperfusion used., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction and Objectives: Ischemic heart disease is the single most common cause of death in Europe. Mortality in patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is associated with many factors, one of which is the time delay to treatment. The purpose of this work is to analyze the coronary pathway in our region in terms of timing, taking into consideration the place of first medical contact (FMC)., Methods: Consecutive patients admitted to our center with STEMI to undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between 2013 and 2022 were analyzed. Age, gender, and time delays were collected. Analysis was performed with IBM SPSS version 28 for a significance level of 0.05., Results: We found that non-PCI centers had a significantly greater FMC to diagnosis delay and diagnosis to wire delay compared to other places of origin. Only 2.2% of patients met the 10-min FMC to diagnosis target; 44.8% met the target of 90 min from diagnosis to wire in transferred patients, while 40.6% met the 60-min target for patients admitted to a PCI center. Median patient, electrocardiogram (ECG) and logistic delays are 92.0±146.0 min, 19.0±146.0 min and 15.5±46.3 min, respectively., Conclusion: A significant difference between state-of-the-art targets and reality was found, depending on the place of FMC, with the worst delays in non-PCI centers. Patient delay, ECG delay, FMC to diagnosis and logistic delay are identified as key areas in which to intervene., (Copyright © 2024 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Aims: The Selvester scoring system has been derived from ECG parameters for estimating infarct size. However, there is still a lack of evidence for Selvester score as an alternative to cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) myocardial injury makers for risk stratification and prediction of left ventricular function (LVF) recovery among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)., Methods and Results: This multicentre observational study enrolled 328 STEMI patients (88.4% men, 57.3 ± 10.6 years of age) undergoing CMR examination 1 week post-reperfusion therapy. Patients with baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 50% underwent a follow-up CMR 6 months later, categorized into baseline normal LVF (ejection fraction [EF] ≥ 50% at baseline, n = 155); recovered LVF (EF < 50% at baseline and ≥50% after 6 months, n = 69); and reduced LVF (EF < 50% at baseline and after 6 months, n = 104). The median follow-up was 4 (3-4) years for all patients, with 61 patients experiencing major adverse cardiovascular event (MACEs). Patients with reduced LVF had a higher risk of MACEs than those with baseline normal LVF (P = 0.01), while the recovered LVF group had no significant difference (P > 0.05). A Selvester score >10 doubled the risk of MACEs in patients with systolic dysfunction (1.91 [1.02 to 3.58], P = 0.04). Additionally, Selvester score, baseline LVEF, transmural infarction, and peak CK-MB were independent predictors of recovered LVF, with Selvester score providing incremental predictive value to peak CK-MB in predicting recovered LVF (∆AUC = 0.07, P < 0.05)., Conclusions: The Selvester score improves risk stratification among STEMI patients beyond LVEF and provide independent and incremental information to clinical parameters in predicting recovered LVF., (© 2024 The Authors. ESC Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Society of Cardiology.)

Background: In recent years, 5-Methoxytryptophan (5-MTP) has been identified as an endothelial factor with vaso-protective and anti-inflammatory properties., Methods: In this prospective cohort study, a total of 407 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) successfully were enrolled. A 1-year follow-up Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used for evaluating the correlation between 5-MTP and major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) while Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to identify predictive values of 5-MTP on MACE after AMI., Results: Increased 5-MTP level led to a significant downtrend in the incidence of MACE (All Log-rank p < 0.05). Thus, a high baseline 5-MTP could reduce the 1-year incidence of MACE (HR = 0.33, 95%Cl 0.17-0.64, p = 0.001) and heart failure (HF) (HR = 0.28, 95% Cl 0.13-0.62, p = 0.002). Subgroup analysis indicated the predictive value of 5-MTP was more significant in patients aged ≤ 65 years and those with higher baseline NT-proBNP, T2DM, STEMI, and baseline HF with preserved LVEF (HFpEF) characteristics., Conclusions: Plasma 5-MTP is an independent and protective early biomarker for 1-year MACE and HF events in patients with AMI, especially in younger patients and those with T2DM, STEMI, and baseline HFpEF characteristics., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: A subset of patients with acute coronary artery occlusion requiring emergency revascularization, does not present with the typical ECG features of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).Timely identification of these atypical presentations is crucial., Case Presentation: This report describes a 55-year-old male patient who was admitted to the emergency department with chest pain. The electrocardiogram (ECG) recorded atypical de Winter electrocardiographic changes and their evolution., Results: Coronary angiography confirmed the occlusion of the second diagonal branch (D2). The patient's condition improved after D2 balloon angioplasty., Conclusion: De Winter electrocardiographic changes can also be observed in D2 occlusions and may present with milder manifestations. Timely recognition of these changes holds significant clinical value., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: New-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) is a common adverse outcome in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and is associated with a worse prognosis. The platelet-to-albumin ratio (PAR) has been utilized to predict the severity and prognosis of cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to investigate the predictive value of PAR combined with the C 2 HEST score for NOAF in the elderly population with STEMI undergoing PCI., Methods: 445 elderly STEMI patients without a history of atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent PCI were consecutively enrolled in this study. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for NOAF after PCI., Results: 50 patients (11.2%) developed NOAF after PCI. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that heart rate (HR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), uric acid (UA), PAR, and C 2 HEST score were independent risk factors for NOAF. The area under the curve (AUC) of the combined PAR and C 2 HEST score was 0.839, and Delong's test indicated that the combined model had superior predictive value compared to individual markers (AUC of PAR: 0.738; AUC of C 2 HEST score: 0.752) (P < 0.05). The addition of PAR and C 2 HEST score to this model (HR, SII, and UA) significantly improved the reclassification and discrimination ability (IDI 0.175; NRI 0.734, both P < 0.001). During regular follow-up, the incidence of MACE was higher in the NOAF group compared to the non-NOAF group., Conclusion: The combination of PAR and the C 2 HEST score has a high predictive value for NOAF in elderly STEMI patients following PCI., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: The optimal timing for the initiation of oral beta-blockers after acute myocardial infarction (MI) remains unclear within the context of current primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) practice., Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 412 consecutive patients admitted with a diagnosis of acute MI between January 2007 and August 2016 who underwent successful primary PCI and were given oral carvedilol during hospitalization. Early and late carvedilol groups were based on initiation within the first 24 h or after. Propensity score matching (1:1) incorporating 21 baseline characteristics yielded 47 matched pairs. Timing of carvedilol initiation was evaluated in relation to patient outcomes including time to all-cause mortality, using Kaplan-Meier estimates on the matched cohort and additional confirmation in multivariable regression analysis among the entire cohort., Results: Median follow-up period was 828 days. All-cause death occurred in 14 patients (4.7%) and 18 patients (15.8%) of the early and late carvedilol groups. After propensity score matching, initiation of oral carvedilol within the first 24 h was associated with lower all-cause mortality (6.4% vs. 25.5%, hazard ratio 0.28, 95% confidence interval 0.06 - 0.89, p = 0.036), as well as lower in-hospital mortality (0 vs. 14.9%, p = 0.018)., Conclusions: These results provide evidence that initiation of oral carvedilol within the first 24 h reduces the risk of long-term mortality, in acute MI patients who underwent primary PCI, supporting current guidelines recommendation., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: This study aims to assess the associations of admission systolic blood pressure (SBP) level with spontaneous reperfusion (SR) and long-term prognosis in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients., Methods: Data from 3809 STEMI patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention within 24 h, as recorded in the Chinese STEMI PPCI Registry (NCT04996901), were analyzed. The primary endpoint was SR, defined as thrombolysis in myocardial infarction grade 2-3 flow of IRA according to emergency angiography. The second endpoint was 2-year all-cause mortality. The association between admission BP and outcomes was evaluated using Logistic regression or Cox proportional hazards models with restricted cubic splines, adjusting for clinical characteristics., Results: Admission SBP rather than diastolic BP was associated with SR after adjustment. Notably, this relationship exhibits a nonlinear pattern. Below 120mmHg, There existed a significant positive correlation between admission SBP and the incidence of SR (adjusted OR per 10-mmHg decrease for SBP ≤ 120 mm Hg: 0.800; 95% CI: 0.706-0.907; p<0.001); whereas above 120mmHg, no further improvement in SR was observed (adjusted OR per 10-mmHg increase for SBP >120 mm Hg: 1.019; 95% CI: 0.958-1.084, p = 0.552). In the analysis of the endpoint event of mortality, patients admitted with SBP ranging from 121 to 150 mmHg exhibited the lowest mortality compared with those SBP ≤ 120mmHg (adjusted HR: 0.653; 95% CI: 0.495-0.862; p = 0.003). In addition, subgroups analysis with Killip class I-II showed SBP ≤ 120mmHg was still associated with increased risk of mortality., Conclusion: The present study revealed admission SBP above 120 mmHg was associated with higher SR,30-d and 2-y survival rate in STEMI patients. The admission SBP could be a marker to provide clinical assessment and treatment., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04996901), 07/27/2021., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Machine learning clustering of patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) may provide important insights into their risk profile, management and prognosis., Methods: All adult discharges for STEMI in the National Inpatient Sample (October 2015 to December 2019) were included, excluding patients with prior myocardial infarction. Machine-learning clustering analysis was used to define clusters based on 21 clinical attributes of interest. Main outcomes of the study were cluster-based comparison of risk profile, in-hospital clinical outcomes and utilization of invasive management. Binomial hierarchical multivariable logistic regression with adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) was used to detect the between-cluster differences., Results: Out of overall 470,960 STEMI cases, the machine-learning analysis revealed 4 different clusters with 205,640 (cluster 0: 'behavioural risk cluster'), 146,400 (cluster 1: 'least comorbidity cluster'), 45,100 (cluster 2: 'diabetes with end-organ damage cluster') and 73,820 (cluster 3: 'cardiometabolic cluster') cases. Attributes with the highest importance for clustering were hypertension and diabetes. After multivariable adjustment, patients from 'diabetes with end-organ damage cluster' exhibited the worst mortality, MACCE and ischemic stroke (p < 0.001 for all), as well as the lowest utilization of invasive management (p < 0.001 for all), in comparison to other clusters. Patients from 'behavioural risk cluster' exhibited the best in-hospital prognosis and the highest utilization of invasive management, compared to other clusters (p < 0.001 for all)., Conclusions: Machine learning driven clustering of inpatients with STEMI reveals important population subgroups with distinct prevalence, risk profile, prognosis and management. Data driven approaches may identify high risk phenogroups and warrants further study., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Timely diagnosis and treatment for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) requires a coordinated response from multiple providers. Rapid intervention is key to reducing mortality and morbidity. Activation of the cardiac catheterization laboratory may occur through verbal communication and may also involve the secure sharing of electrocardiographic images between frontline health care providers and interventional cardiologists. To improve this response, we developed a quick, easy-to-use, privacy-compliant smartphone app, that is SMART AMI-ACS (Strategic Management of Acute Reperfusion and Therapies in Acute Myocardial Infarction Acute Coronary Syndromes), for real-time verbal communication and sharing of electrocardiographic images among health care providers in Ontario, Canada. The app further provides information about diagnosis, management, and risk calculators for patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome., Objective: This study aims to integrate the app into workflow processes to improve communication for STEMI activation, resulting in decreased treatment times, improved patient outcomes, and reduced unnecessary catheterization laboratory activation and transfer., Methods: Implementation of the app will be guided by the Reach, Effectiveness, Acceptability, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework to measure impact. The study will use quantitative registry data already being collected through the SMART AMI project (STEMI registry), the use of the SMART AMI app, and quantitative and qualitative survey data from physicians. Survey questions will be based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Descriptive quantitative analysis and thematic qualitative analysis of survey results will be conducted. Continuous variables will be described using either mean and SD or median and IQR values at pre- and postintervention periods by the study sites. Categorical variables, such as false activation, will be described as frequencies (percentages). For each outcome, an interrupted time series regression model will be fitted to evaluate the impact of the app., Results: The primary outcomes of this study include the usability, acceptability, and functionality of the app for physicians. This will be measured using electronic surveys to identify barriers and facilitators to app use. Other key outcomes will measure the implementation of the app by reviewing the timing-of-care intervals, false "avoidable" catheterization laboratory activation rates, and uptake and use of the app by physicians. Prospective evaluation will be conducted between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023. However, for the timing- and accuracy-of-care outcomes, registry data will be compared from January 1, 2019, to March 31, 2023. Data analysis is expected to be completed in Fall 2024, with the completion of a paper for publication anticipated by the end of 2024., Conclusions: Smartphone technology is well integrated into clinical practice and widely accessible. The proposed solution being tested is secure and leverages the accessibility of smartphones. Emergency medicine physicians can use this app to quickly, securely, and accurately transmit information ensuring faster and more appropriate decision-making for STEMI activation., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05290389; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05290389., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): DERR1-10.2196/55506., (©Hassan Mir, Katelyn J Cullen, Karen Mosleh, Rafi Setrak, Sanjit Jolly, Michael Tsang, Gregory Rutledge, Quazi Ibrahim, Michelle Welsford, Mathew Mercuri, JD Schwalm, Madhu K Natarajan. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (https://www.researchprotocols.org), 06.09.2024.)

Background: Angina pectoris can occur in up to 40% of patients following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). There is limited data assessing whether the type of stent implanted during revascularization can predict post-PCI angina symptoms., Methods: In this study, data regarding revascularization characteristics including the stent type in patients admitted for PCI was collected. Prospective data including occurrence of angina and the presenting class, new onset ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and other clinical outcomes were collected at 1, 3, and 6-month follow-up intervals. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the potential predictors of angina symptoms at 6-month follow-up., Results: A total of 787 patients (64.5% males) undergoing PCI with three stent types (Orsiro, Promus, and Xience) were included in the study. The occurrence of post PCI angina pectoris and new STEMI was similar among the stent types (p > 0.05). A linear association was found between the development of new STEMI (p = 0.018) and stroke (p = 0.003) and the worsening of angina class. The stent type was not a predictor of angina during the follow-up period. Other variables including dyslipidemia (odds ratio (OR) (95% CI), 1.51 (1.08; 2.10)), prior coronary artery disease (CAD) (OR (95% CI), 1.63 (1.02; 2.61)), and previous hospitalization (OR (95% CI), 2.10 (1.22; 3.63)) were independent predictors of angina., Conclusions: Although the type of stent may not have an association with the post-PCI angina, other predictors such as dyslipidemia and previous CAD and hospitalization may predict recurrence of cardiac angina. The class of angina severity may have a linear association with new-onset STEMI and stroke., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Limited data exist on the role of coronary collaterals circulation (CCC) in patients with ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (STE-ACS). This study aimed to assess CCC and the in-hospital course of patients with CCC undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI)., Methods: The study included consecutive STE-ACS patients undergoing pPCI. Good CCC was defined as Rentrop collateral score (RCS) of 2-3. Patients with good and poor CCC were compared regarding clinical characteristics, angiographic patterns, and hospital course., Results: In the sample of 4683 patients, mean age was 55.6 ± 11 years, and 78.8 % were male. Good CCC was observed in 499 (10.7 %) patients. The rate of intra-procedure slow-flow/no-reflow (SF/NR) was 29.9 % vs. 20.5 % (p < 0.001), and the rate of composite adverse clinical outcomes (CACO) was 21.2 % vs. 19 % (p = 0.225) for patients with good and poor CCC, respectively. Multivariable analysis identified left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), multi-vessel disease (MVD), and thrombus grade ≥4 as independent predictors of good CCC, with adjusted odds ratios of 0.98 [0.97-0.99], 1.69 [1.35-2.10], and 3.45 [2.64-4.52], respectively. In propensity-matched cohorts, the intra-procedure SF/NR rate was 29.9 % vs. 26.9 % (p = 0.292), and the rate of CACO was 21.2 % vs. 23.4 % (p = 0.403) for patients with good and poor CCC, respectively., Conclusion: Angiographic evidence of good CCC in STE-ACS patients was limited. Good CCC was associated with a higher prevalence of MVD, high thrombus burden, and low pre-procedure LVEDP, resulting in a higher incidence of intra-procedure SF/NR. However, the CACO did not differ significantly between patients with good and poor CCC., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier, a division of RELX India, Pvt. Ltd.)

Background: Modeling outcomes, such as onset of heart failure (HF) or mortality, in patients following ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is challenging but clinically very useful. The acute insult following a myocardial infarction and chronic degeneration seen in HF involve a similar process where a loss of cardiomyocytes and abnormal remodeling lead to pump failure. This process may alter the strength and direction of the heart's net depolarization signal. We hypothesize that changes over time in unique parameters extracted using vectorcardiography (VCG) have the potential to predict outcomes in patients post-STEMI and could eventually be used as a noninvasive and cost-effective surveillance tool for characterizing the severity and progression of HF to guide evidence-based therapies., Methods: We identified 162 patients discharged from Michigan Medicine between 2016 and 2021 with a diagnosis of acute STEMI. For each patient, a single 12-lead ECG > 1 week pre-STEMI and > 1 week post-STEMI were collected. A set of unique VCG parameters were derived by analyzing features of the QRS complex. We used LASSO regression analysis incorporating clinical variables and VCG parameters to create a predictive model for HF, mortality, or the composite at 90, 180, and 365 days post-STEMI., Results: The VCG model is most predictive for HF onset at 90 days with a robust AUC. Variables from the HF model mitigating or driving risk, at a p < 0.05, were primarily parameters that assess the area swept by the depolarization vector including the 3D integral and convex hull in select spatial octants and quadrants., (© 2024 The Author(s). Annals of Noninvasive Electrocardiology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: To analyze the predictive value of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and neutrophil-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio (NHR) for in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and to establish an associated nomogram model., Methods: In this retrospective study, we collected data from consecutive STEMI patients who underwent PCI from October 2019 to June 2023 at the Second People's Hospital of Hefei and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, as training and validation sets. Stepwise regression and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to screen independent risk factors, and a nomogram model was constructed and evaluated for its predictive efficacy., Results: The TyG index, NHR, urea, diastolic blood pressure, hypertension, and left ventricular ejection fraction were independent risk factors for in-hospital MACE after PCI, and were used to construct the nomogram model. The C-index of the training and validation sets were 0.799 and 0.753, respectively, suggesting that the model discriminated well. Calibration and clinical decision curves also demonstrated that the nomogram model had good predictive power., Conclusion: In STEMI patients, increased TyG index and NHR were closely related to the occurrence of in-hospital MACE after PCI. Our constructed nomogram model has some value for predicting the occurrence of in-hospital MACE in STEMI patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestThe authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Background: Inflammation plays a crucial role in the progression of acute coronary syndrome., Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the SYNTAX score and new inflammatory markers including albumin-globulin ratio (AGR), C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR), fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR), neutrophil-to-albumin ratio (NAR), and neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) in STEMI and NSTEMI patients., Methods: The study involved 53 STEMI and 64 NSTEMI patients, and each patient group was evaluated separately. Multivariate linear regression analysis was utilised to identify independent risk factors associated with SYNTAX scores., Results: Out of the 64 NSTEMI patients, 42 had low SYNTAX score (65.6%), and 22 had high SYNTAX score (34.4%). Patients with high SYNTAX scores had significantly higher levels of age, glucose, fibrinogen, monocyte, and FAR, and lower levels of albumin and total protein. We found that FAR and monocyte levels were independent predictors of the high SYNTAX score. The study also determined that the cut-off value for FAR as 9.99, with a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 73% for predicting high SYNTAX score in NSTEMI patients. Out of the 53 STEMI patients, 42 had low SYNTAX score (79.2%), and 11 had high SYNTAX score (20.8%). Patients with high SYNTAX scores exhibited significantly higher total cholesterol, LDL, and glucose levels, and lower albumin and total protein levels., Conclusions: The FAR level is significantly linked with the high SYNTAX score and can be a useful marker for predicting the severity of disease in NSTEMI patients.

A 79-year-old male with a history of coronary artery disease presented to the Emergency Department with chest pain. ECG showed RBBB with mild ST elevation and positive T waves in I, aVL and V2. In patients with RBBB lack of ST depression and T wave inversion in the anterior leads could signify ischemia secondary to left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion. However, the patient did not have acute coronary syndrome and the presenting ECG was comparable to an ECG recorded five years earlier., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The registry-based randomized VALIDATE-SWEDEHEART trial (NCT02311231) compared bivalirudin vs. heparin in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for myocardial infarction (MI). It showed no difference in the composite primary endpoint of death, MI, or major bleeding at 180 days. Here, we report outcomes at two years., Methods: Analysis of primary and secondary endpoints at two years of follow-up was prespecified in the study protocol. We report the study results for the extended follow-up time here., Results: In total, 6006 patients were enrolled, 3005 with ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI) and 3001 with Non-STEMI (NSTEMI), representing 70 % of all eligible patients with these diagnoses during the study. The primary endpoint occurred in 14.0 % (421 of 3004) in the bivalirudin group compared with 14.3 % (429 of 3002) in the heparin group (hazard ratio [HR] 0.97; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 0.85-1.11; P = 0.70) at one year and in 16.7 % (503 of 3004) compared with 17.1 % (514 of 3002), (HR 0.97; 95 % CI, 0.96-1.10; P = 0.66) at two years. The results were consistent in patients with STEMI and NSTEMI and across major subgroups., Conclusions: Until the two-year follow-up, there were no differences in endpoints between patients with MI undergoing PCI and allocated to bivalirudin compared with those allocated to heparin., Registration: URL: https://www., Clinicaltrials: gov; Unique identifier: NCT02311231., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Elmir Omerovic reports grants from Astra Zeneca, personal fees from Astra Zeneca, MSD, Bayer, Janssen outside the submitted work. Stefan James reports grants from Astra Zeneca, grants from The Medicines Company, grants from Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation, and grants from Swedish Research Council during the conduct of the study; personal fees from Bayer and grants from Jansen outside the submitted work. Truls Råmunddal reports personal fees from Boston Scientific and personal fees from Abbot outside the submitted work. Ole Fröbert reports personal fees from GE Medical and from Astra Zeneca outside the submitted work. Pontus Lindroos reports personal fees from Astra Zeneca outside the submitted work. Anders Ulvenstam reports personal fees from Boston Scientific outside the submitted work. Matthias Götberg reports grants and personal fees from Volcano Corporation, personal fees from Boston Scientific, and personal fees from Medtronic Corporation outside the submitted work. Oskar Angerås Dr. reports personal fees from Astra Zeneca outside the submitted work. Olie Östlund reports grants from AstraZeneca, grants from The Medicines Company. Cleas Held reports grants and personal fees from AstraZeneca, grants from GlaxoSmithKline, grants from BristolMyers Squibb, and grants from Merck outside the submitted work. Sasha Koul reports personal fees from Pfizer, personal fees from BMS, and personal fees from Astra Zeneca outside the submitted work. David Erlinge reports personal fees from Astrazeneca and The Medicines Company outside the submitted work. All others co-authors have nothing to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The Dressler-de Winter sign is an electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern characterized by upsloping ST-segment depression in leads V1-V6 followed by tall, hyperacute T waves, typically indicating an occlusion of the left anterior descending artery (LAD). We present a case involving an inferoposterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with a variant of the de Winter sign, a concept of ST-segment continuum in the precordial leads. Despite initial ECG findings suggesting right coronary artery (RCA) or left circumflex artery (LCX) involvement, coronary angiography confirmed occlusion of the wrap-around LAD distal to the first septal (S1) and diagonal branch (D1) and revealed a left dominant system accompanied by a small non-dominant RCA. This case highlights the diagnostic complexity in accurately localizing the culprit artery in STEMI cases exhibiting the de Winter sign. Understanding such ECG variants is crucial for analyzing the mechanisms of acute ischemia and ensuring accurate assessment of the culprit vessel for effective revascularization., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The author declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS), specifically ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction is a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout Europe. Diagnosis in the acute setting is mainly based on clinical symptoms and physician's interpretation of an electrocardiogram (ECG), which may be subject to errors. ST-segment elevation is the leading criteria to activate urgent reperfusion therapy, but a clear ST-elevation pattern might not be present in patients with coronary occlusion and ST-segment elevation might be seen in patients with normal coronary arteries., Methods: The ASSIST project is a retrospective observational study aiming to improve the ECG-assisted assessment of ACS patients in the acute setting by incorporating an artificial intelligence platform, Willem™ to analyze 12‑lead ECGs. Our aim is to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce treatment delays. ECG and clinical data collected during this study will enable the optimization and validation of Willem™. A retrospective multicenter study will collect ECG, clinical, and coronary angiography data from 10,309 patients. The primary outcome is the performance of this tool in the correct identification of acute myocardial infarction with coronary artery occlusion. Model performance will be evaluated internally with patients recruited in this retrospective study while external validation will be performed in a second stage., Conclusion: ASSIST will provide key data to optimize Willem™ platform to detect myocardial infarction based on ECG-assessment alone. Our hypothesis is that such a diagnostic approach may reduce time delays, enhance diagnostic accuracy, and improve clinical outcomes., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: In patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the prevalence of having concomitant severe non-culprit lesion(s) is ≥40%. While timely primary PCI (pPCI) for the culprit lesion is the standard practice, management of the non-culprit lesions remains unsettled., Results: This prospective multi-center observational study recruited 492 acute STEMI patients who underwent successful pPCI for the culprit lesion. Culprit-only versus complementary non-culprit lesion(s) PCI (either immediate or staged during the same hospital stay) was according to the operator's discretion. Clinical, echocardiographic, and angiographic data were collected and tabulated. The residual SYNTAX score (rSS) was completed by the time of discharge considering the residual lesions after all in-hospital revascularization procedures. Through a minimum follow-up of 12 months, older age, presentation with heart failure Killip class ≥ II, lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on admission, lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and higher rSS by discharge were significantly associated with recurrent MACE. In multivariate regression analysis, Killip class ≥ II, LVEF, and rSS were found to be independent predictors for recurrent MACE. In the Receiver Operating Characteristics curve, an rSS of >8 had a sensitivity of 70.1%, and specificity of 75.3% to predict 1-year MACE., Conclusions: Residual syntax score proved to be an independent predictor for recurrent MACE through the subsequent year post STEMI. Patients with rSS >8 seem to be at the highest risk for adverse events and are likely to be the most deserving for completing revascularization to reduce the disease burden.

Aims: High platelet-derived thrombogenicity during the acute phase of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is associated with poor outcomes; however, the associated factors remain unclear. This study aimed to examine whether acute inflammatory response after STEMI affects platelet-derived thrombogenicity., Methods: This retrospective observational single-center study included 150 patients with STEMI who were assessed for platelet-derived thrombogenicity during the acute phase. Platelet-derived thrombogenicity was assessed using the area under the flow-pressure curve for platelet chip (PL-AUC), which was measured using the total thrombus-formation analysis system (T-TAS). The peak leukocyte count was evaluated as an acute inflammatory response after STEMI. The patients were divided into two groups: the highest quartile of the peak leukocyte count and the other three quartiles combined., Results: Patients with a high peak leukocyte count (＞15,222/mm 3 ; n=37) had a higher PL-AUC upon admission (420 [386-457] vs. 385 [292-428], p=0.0018), higher PL-AUC during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) (155 [76-229] vs. 96 [29-170], p=0.0065), a higher peak creatine kinase level (4200±2486 vs. 2373±1997, p＜0.0001), and higher PL-AUC 2 weeks after STEMI (119 [61-197] vs. 88 [46-122], p=0.048) than those with a low peak leukocyte count (≤ 15,222/mm 3 ; n=113). The peak leukocyte count after STEMI positively correlated with PL-AUC during primary PPCI (r=0.37, p＜0.0001). A multivariable regression analysis showed the peak leukocyte count to be an independent factor for PL-AUC during PPCI (β=0.26, p=0.0065)., Conclusions: An elevated leukocyte count is associated with high T-TAS-based platelet-derived thrombogenicity during the acute phase of STEMI.

Objective: To assess the trends and impact of changes in management of ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) from 2010 to 2019., Design: Retrospective analysis of data from STEMI hospitalisations including demographic, comorbidity, angiographic and outcome data., Setting/participants: High-volume non-surgical regional Australian tertiary referral centre., Main Outcome Measurements: Index & 12-month mortality (all-cause & cardiovascular), door-to-balloon time, target-vessel failure, target-vessel revascularisation & procedure-related bleeding., Results: From 2010 to 2019, 1299 patients presented with STEMI. The cardiovascular risk factor profile did not significantly change over the 10-year study period, p = 0.23. There was a significant trend toward culprit vessel percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting, rather than balloon angioplasty followed by surgical revascularisation, p = 0.029. The mean door-to-balloon time was 88 +/- 5.7 min and demonstrated a statistically significant improvement across the decade, p = 0.035. Radial access became the preferred angiographic approach (2010 92% femoral, 2019 91% radial). Drug-eluting stents (DES) replaced bare metal stent use. There was a statistically significant reduction in 12-month cardiovascular mortality across the decade (p = 0.042). However index hospitalisation (cardiovascular and all-cause) and 12-month all-cause mortality did not reduce. Young patients and women are important sub-groups of STEMI presentations with different risk factor profile., Conclusions: Advances in management of STEMI such as radial access, use of DES and a significant reduction in door-to-balloon time across the decade resulted in a reduction of 12-month cardiovascular mortality over the decade however there was no significant reduction in 12-month all-cause mortality, or index hospitalisation cardiovascular or index hospitalisation all-cause mortality. Further research is needed to ensure non-mortality outcomes, such as heart failure hospitalisation and quality of life, also demonstrate temporal improvement with STEMI management advances. Earlier cardiovascular risk assessment should be considered in smokers than is currently recommended in Australian guidelines (≥45yo for most individuals)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or non-for-profit sectors., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The use of technological innovations in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) care networks has been shown to be effective in improving information flow and coordination, and thus reducing the time to reperfusion. We developed a smartphone application called ODISEA to improve our STEMI care network and evaluated the results of its use., Method: Quasi-experimental study that compared the outcomes of STEMI suspected patients with an alert and indication for transfer to a cath lab during a previous period and a period in which the ODISEA APP was used. The main objective was to examine differences in reperfusion time and the proportion of patients with a final diagnosis other than acute coronary syndrome., Results: A total of 699 patients were included (415 before and 284 during the ODISEA-APP period). No differences were observed in patient characteristics, infarct type, or acute complications. We observed a reduction in the time from diagnostic ECG to wire crossing with the use of the ODISEA APP (117 vs 102 min, p < 0.001) and a reduction in the percentage of patients with a final diagnosis other than acute coronary syndrome (17.1% vs 9.5%, p = 0.004)., Conclusions: The use of the ODISEA APP in the management of patients with suspected STEMI may be useful for reducing the time from diagnostic ECG to wire crossing and the percentage of patients with a final diagnosis other than acute coronary syndrome., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The clinical governance of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has markedly changed in the last few years. We sought to assess the contemporary in-hospital management patterns of patients with AMI at a country level., Methods: EYESHOT (EmploYEd antithrombotic therapies in patients with acute coronary Syndromes HOspitalized in iTalian cardiac care units)-2 was a nationwide, prospective registry aimed to evaluate the current management of patients admitted to intensive cardiac care units (CCUs) for an AMI in Italy., Results: Over a 4-week period (February 1st-29th, 2024), 183 CCUs enrolled 2806 consecutive patients: 52.6 % with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and 47.4 % with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The median time from hospital admission to angiography in NSTEMI was 22.3 h (IQR 10.9-46.1), while for STEMI was 1.1 h (IQR 0.5-2.2) with significant difference between hospitals with and without catheterization laboratories. In both NSTEMI and STEMI patients, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was the preferred management strategy (73.3 % and 94.2 %, respectively). An optimal secondary prevention therapy, including dual antiplatelet therapy, inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system, a beta-blocker and a high-intensity statin was prescribed at discharge in more than 75 % of patients with AMI. In-hospital major bleedings occurred in 2.0 % and 2.3 % (p = 0.58), while death in 1.8 % and 2.8 % (p = 0.09) of NSTEMI and STEMI patients, respectively., Conclusions: The EYESHOT-2 registry shows the current management strategies and outcome of AMI patients admitted to Italian CCUs and provides insights to improve the clinical care of such patients., Clinical Trial Registration: URL: http://www., Clinicaltrials: gov. Unique identifier: NCT06316128., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest LDL received honoraria for advisory boards or as speaker/chairman at scientific congresses from the following companies: Amgen, Aspen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Daiichi Sankyo, Menarini, Novonordisk, Pfizer/Bristol-Myers Squibb, Sanofi and Servier. APM received personal fees for participation in study committees sponsored by Bayer, AstraZeneca, Novartis and Sanofi, outside the present work. SL received honoraria for advisory boards or as speaker/chairman at scientific congresses from the following companies: AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Daiichi Sankyo, Novonordisk, Pfizer/Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Sanofi. DL is an employee of Heart Care Foundation which conducted the study, partially supported by an unresctricted grant of research from Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Italy. MMG has no conflict of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)